Delicately wrapped treats in a wicker basket laced by a gold ribbon arrived in a package outside the offices of State and Federal Communications yesterday. Along with the treat basket came a small card that read: A Special Gift…Just for You!

The Public Affairs Council congratulated State and Federal Communications on winning the Ready, Set, Walk challenge by sending a basket of treats from Wine Country Gift Baskets on August 2^nd.

President and CEO Elizabeth Bartz announced the arrival of the gift basket during the company staff meeting.

A special thank you to the Public Affairs Council for providing us with this wonderful surprise!

In a few days, we are leaving for Chicago to attend our 13th National Conference of State Legislatures. This is no small feat for State and Federal Communications anymore—we are taking seven (7) staff people and our exhibit booth, which I refer to as my “retirement condo.”

Our schedule for the week is color coded for exhibit times, NCSL meetings we attend, State Government Affairs Council (SGAC) events, Washington Area State Relations Group (WASRG) events, Women’s Legislative network events, and other social events held throughout the week.

In addition, State and Federal Communications is a sponsor to both Ohio Night and Virginia Night—but we are definitely more involved with Ohio Night. Our friends from Whirlpool are providing the Penthouse level from the World of Whirlpool for our function. We are definitely excited that so many folks from the state legislature are attending this year’s NCSL Legislative Summit.

The best thing about NCSL is you will find us if you have any questions or concerns about taking legislators out to dinner or a baseball game (Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday – White Sox vs. the Royals Thursday through Sunday – Cubs vs. the Reds ). You can find us in Booth 923 in the Exhibit Hall on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Stop on by to say hello.

The sad part of this year’s program is Bill Pound’s wife, Margie, passed away on July 25th after a long illness. Our hearts and prayers are with Bill and his children at this time. May Margie’s Memory Be Eternal.

Thank you.

After a one-week walking challenge between the Public Affairs Council and State and Federal Communications, the results have arrived at last!

Coming in first place with 1,771,196 steps, 23 employees at State and Federal Communications took the win, out-walking the Public Affairs Council by 129,967 steps.

The top 23 walkers at the Public Affairs Council reached 1,641,229, coming very close to victory. Both teams utilized their time and effort to improve their health and spark friendly competition.

Intern Maria Varonis of State and Federal Communications, who participated in the walking challenge, spoke of how this competition influenced her and all of the participants.

“The first day we didn’t have to wear our pedometers, something felt amiss at my hip….It was sort of sad since I realized I wasn’t contributing to anything anymore,” Varonis said. “Working as a team to obtain a common goal both of health and of victory is an amazing feeling. We should all be proud of ourselves. I know I am.”

President Barack Obama is coming to speak on August 1, 2012 at the John S. Knight Center in downtown Akron. Here is a picture of our excited interns, who were waiting in line to get tickets at the center.

Too much fun. We are proud to be a supporter United Way of Summit County, and thankful for all of the wonderful work they do!

With only three days left of the “Ready, Set, Walk” competition against the Public Affairs Council, employees at State and Federal Communications are eagerly setting aside time to increase their number of steps.

Walking with pedometers strapped to their sides, the employees of State and Federal Communications are focused on prevailing in the competition against their friendly rivals in Washington, DC.

We created a quick video as inspiration for the final three days of our challenge. Take a look!

Video produced by Joanna Kamvouris.

Social media is constantly changing the way people communicate and receive information in today’s society. Through an organization of public relations professionals, the managing editor of Fox 8 spoke at a local event about news coverage in the Akron area.

The Public Relations Society of America hosted a luncheon at the Martin University Center to discuss the launching of a new Fox 8 bureau on the Akron University campus. Managing editor Toni Garbo addressed the audience about local news coverage involving social media and new technology.

Social Media Coordinator Joe May of State and Federal Communications, along with the company interns, attended the event to better understand the importance of accurate news coverage and communication. Garbo addressed topics including the significance of informative press release headlines and the value of objectivity in the field of journalism, especially now that Fox 8 is inaugurating a bureau on the university campus.

Garbo allowed the audience to ask questions during her presentation, and the interns had a chance to hear different perspectives and learn how Fox 8 will provide new opportunities for communications students at the University of Akron.

By attending local events, the interns at State and Federal Communications are learning the importance of social networking and becoming involved with issues in the Akron community.

In the midst of our employee walking challenge, State and Federal Communications has a new friendly rival.

Beginning July 23, the Public Affairs Council and State and Federal Communications will work up a sweat, taking part in a one week challenge called “Ready, Set, Walk” to promote wellness and stir up healthy competition.

Wearing pedometers to track their daily steps, 24 employees from each organization will aim to motivate their co-workers and accumulate the most steps by July 29. Both teams are giving their best effort to walk for the win.

Best of luck to all participants, and let the walking begin!

The kitchen is complete by now. There is no more noise. Today alone, I ran into three people in our recently resized dining area:

Jen and I empathized over our faltering attempts at gardening. Why is it so hard, sometimes?

Jon and I discussed Radiohead and Hilton Head. Thom Yorke is a dancing machine!

And Sarah and I talked weddings. “I’m a bridesmaid, and it’s carnival themed.”

Just through these tiny interactions, I notice myself getting more comfortable here, in my new surroundings. I feel more at ease as an intern, and I’m happy.

It seems like all that racket was worth it.

This year marks the 104^th annual meeting of the National Governors Association. The meeting will be held in Williamsburg, Virginia, from July 13 through the 15. Governors from different regions will attend to discuss leadership methods and issues regarding states.

Elizabeth Bartz, President and CEO of State and Federal Communications, Inc., will attend the meetings and listen to the distinguished speakers discuss governing approaches.

A news conference will kick off the meeting on July 13, highlighting business tactics and economic development methods. Saturday’s events consist of meetings with organizations including the Economic Development and Commerce, the Human Services Committee and the Natural Resources Committee.

The sessions on July 15 cover entrepreneurial opportunities for governors and other policy leaders. According to the NGA news website, Delaware Governor Jack Markell, vice chair of the NGA, acknowledged the importance of governors joining to make improvements.

“The annual meeting brings governors together at a bipartisan level to develop innovative and improved approaches to governing,” Markell said. “As evidenced over the past year, when we come together great things can be accomplished. I look forward to hearing about the work governors are doing in their states.”

And then there’s Maria Varonis, who is me. But I’m going to write about myself in third person because it feels less pretentious that way.

Maria is by far the oldest intern here at State and Federal Communications, Inc. She looks like an aging oak compared to this handful of beautiful, youthful seeds. Last year, Maria had a birthday party. It was roller-skating themed. There was a DJ and vegan baklava. “You only turn 25 once,” she said.

Maria studied Organizational Communication at Ohio University, and is working on her MFA in Creative Writing at the University of Akron. Her focus is nonfiction. Sometimes she works on her thesis during her lunch break, and sometimes she doesn’t touch the thing.

Here, Maria has been helping with marketing. Having studied organizational practices in her undergraduate years, she considers it a privilege to work at “such a productive and communicative establishment.” Maria said she is impressed with how State and Federal Communications, Inc. functions, and that Elizabeth sets a good example for how to run a business. “She takes great care of her staff. In return, her staff is kind and accomplished,” she said. “It’s impressive.”

For lunch, Maria packs very strange meals consisting usually of tofu and mustard greens, vegetables and beans. The tofu is only sometimes, but there are almost always beans.

And too, there is Emily Kesler. She goes to school at Northwestern University, in Evanston, Illinois. Emily is double-majoring in Political Science and Psychology and is working on her minor in Business Institutions. She will be a senior after the summer.

Emily and I met this morning while slinging bags of carrots at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, located in Akron. Elizabeth Bartz stays active with the nonprofit activities of the church, and she gives us the opportunity to help. The interns were there to help with a food drive initiative—“Good Samaritans”—something the church does every month. Emily’s mother helps run the thing. I met her, and she was really nice.

This is Emily’s second stint interning at State and Federal Communications, Inc. and she is excited to be back. She remembers everyone’s name, and there’s energy and warmth behind it. She spends a lot of time in Chicago.

For fun? Emily rock climbs, and has just passed her belay test. She has also played soccer her whole life. For lunch? She eats paninis almost every day: mozzarella, tomato and basil.

Congratulations to Elizabeth Bartz, who is celebrating the 19th anniversary of State and Federal Communications, Inc. We had our monthly staff meeting today, so we took the opportunity to express our thanks.

Cleveland has a new casino downtown, the Horseshoe Casino in the Higbee building, which looks exciting. Many of us are eager to find out what it is like. So, we decided to have a little fun.

The staff presented Elizabeth with a night on the town in Cleveland – complete with a dinner at La Strada on trendy East 4th Street and the chance for a little gambling at the Horseshoe. We threw in good luck dice and a four leaf clover for good measure.

Good luck, Elizabeth!

We have a column in the office with Don Drumm stars on it – one for each anniversary the company celebrates. We are all proud to add a beautiful new star to the collection.

From all of the staff, we offer our best wishes, Elizabeth! Many years of health and prosperity to you.

Photos courtesy of Alexa Livadas and Nicolette Koozer.

On the other side of the building, through a couple doors and down the hall is David Jones. David, at times, goes by Davey: Jones, or Crockett. A sophomore at Stark State in Canton, he studies Cisco Administration.

Davey stays busy being helpful. He fixes his family’s computers, he says, and upgrades his own. Sometimes he works on cars, and he takes things pretty easy over the summer.

For lunch, it seems he eats a very specific meal of turkey with pepper jack cheese, cherry yogurt, and an apple. David admits that this field is “far more complicated than I originally thought. Politics and lobbying in general are very complex subjects that I understand nothing about.”

This is David’s second job; he used to work food service back in his hometown—Norton, Ohio. He is excited to work here.

“I love it here,” he said. “It’s actually my field.” David works in IT, and is good at it.